Extensible markup language (XML) path (XPATH) debugging framework

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to XPATH expression debugging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for an XPATH expression debugging framework. In an embodiment of the invention, an XPATH expression debugging method can include receiving an XPATH input expression, parsing the XPATH input expression to produce a group of sub-expressions, and ordering the sub-expressions in a model for the XPATH input expression. Thereafter, in response to a selection of one of the sub-expressions in the model, a result set can be produced for the sub-expression.

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/549,491, filed Oct. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,321,845, entitled “EXTENSIBLE MARKUP LANGUAGE (XML) PATH (XPATH) DEBUGGING FRAMEWORK,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of markup language processing and more particularly to extensible markup language (XML) path (XPATH) expression traversal of an XML document.

Description of the Related Art

XML is a markup language specification widely credited with improving the functionality of the World Wide Web by allowing the identification of information in a more accurate, flexible, and adaptable way. XML is referred to as “extensible” because XML is not a fixed format like the hypertext markup language (HTML) which is a single, predefined markup language. Rather, XML is a meta-language that describes other languages. As such, XML allows for the design of other markup languages for virtually limitless different types of documents. XML can act as a meta-language because XML is written according to the standardized general markup language (SGML)—the international standard meta-language for text document markup.

There are several methods for processing an XML document. In one method, every clause in the XML document is accounted for and a hierarchical model can be constructed reflecting the interrelationships between the clauses of the XML document. Referred to as a document object model (DOM), the DOM tree once in memory can be traversed at will in order to manipulate the XML document. Another method provides for the event-driven serial parsing of clauses in an XML document. Referred to as “SAX” parsing—an acronym for simple application programming interface (API) for XML—consumes a significantly smaller memory footprint than DOM processing as an entire hierarchical model in the form of a DOM tree need not be constructed prior to processing the XML document.

The XPATH language defines expressions for traversing a DOM for an XML document and specifies the set of nodes or the sequence of nodes in an XML document. An XPATH expression, when evaluated by XPATH expression processing logic, can traverse the DOM for an XML document in steps from node to node until a targeted set of nodes or a sequence of nodes is produced. Once the result is produced, the intermediate nodes associated with the requisite XPATH steps are totally forgotten. The intermediate steps, however, express how an XPATH expression is evaluated for a particular XML document. Thus, the intermediate nodes can be important in debugging the effectiveness of an XPATH expression.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to XPATH expression debugging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for an XPATH expression debugging framework. In an embodiment of the invention, an XPATH expression debugging method can include receiving an XPATH input expression, parsing the XPATH input expression to produce a group of sub-expressions, and ordering the sub-expressions in a model for the XPATH input expression. Thereafter, in response to a selection of one of the sub-expressions in the model, a result set can be produced for the sub-expression.

In one aspect of the embodiment, parsing the XPATH input expression to produce a group of sub-expressions can include parsing the XPATH input expression to identify expression nodes, step nodes, function nodes, and predicates to the step nodes. Once identified, the nodes can be arranged in an XPATH traversal tree (XTT) model. Additionally, parsing the XPATH input expression to identify expression nodes, step nodes, function nodes, and predicates to the step nodes, further can include identifying parenthesis nodes for the XPATH input expression. In any event, ordering the sub-expressions in a model for the XPATH input expression can include associating each sub-expression with a node in the model, and rendering a visual representation of the model in a user interface for an IDE.

In yet another aspect of the embodiment, producing a result set for the sub-expression, can include computing a result set for a sub-expression associated with a selected node in the model in the user interface, and rendering the result set in a result set view for the user interface. The user interface can include, for example, a navigator view, an XPATH input view, a model view and a result set view. The navigator view can provide an interface for selecting a target XML document, while the XPATH input view can provide an interface for submitting an XPATH input expression and, optionally, a context for evaluating the XPATH input expression. The model view can provide a user interface supporting an interactive visual rendering of the nodes of the model, while the result set view can provide a visual rendering of a result set for a selected node on the model view.

In another embodiment of the invention, an IDE data processing system configured for XPATH expression debugging can be provided. The system can include an IDE user interface, an XPATH expression model generator including program code enabled to produce an XPATH traversal tree (XTT) model for an XPATH input expression, and an XPATH expression debugger. The XPATH expression debugger can include program code enabled to apply a sub-expression to a selected XML document corresponding to a selected node in the XTT model in the IDE user interface. As an example, the IDE user interface can include a user interface to an Eclipse framework implementation.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an XPATH expression debugging data processing system;

FIG. 2 is a class diagram of an XPATH expression model configured to model an XPATH expression model in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for debugging an XPATH expression in the system of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of an exemplary user interface for the XPATH expression debugging data processing system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for an XPATH debugger. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an input XPATH expression for application to an XML document can seed an XPATH expression model of sub-expressions. Each of the sub-expressions can resolve to an intermediate step in resolving the input XPATH expression. Thereafter, a graphical representation of the seeded XPATH expression model can be rendered in an integrated development environment user interface. The selection of a node in the XPATH expression model can result in a display of portions of the XML document consistent with an intermediate step for a sub-expression associated with the selected node.

In illustration, FIG. 1 depicts an XPATH expression debugging data processing system. As shown in FIG. 1, an XPATH expression debugging data processing system can include a host computing platform 110 supporting an operating system 120. The host computing platform 110 further can include fixed storage 130 in which one or more XML documents 140 can be disposed. The operating system 120 in turn can host the execution of an integrated development environment (IDE) 150 such as that provided by the Eclipse™ framework. Notably, only a single computing platform coupled to a single fixed storage instance is shown in FIG. 1, though the skilled artisan will recognize multiple variants of the shown configuration including multiple host computing platforms remotely accessed by client end users and multiple fixed storage instances accessible from the host computing platforms.

The IDE 150 can be coupled to an XPATH expression debugger 160. The XPATH expression debugger 160 can include program code enabled to debug the evaluation of an input XPATH expression 180 by rendering result sets for intermediate steps of the evaluation of the input XPATH expression 180. To produce the intermediate steps, XPATH expression model generation logic 170 can be coupled to the XPATH expression debugger 160 and can include program code enabled to build an XPATH expression model 190 for the input XPATH expression 180. Different nodes in the XPATH expression model 190 can reflect different sub-expressions for the input XPATH expression 180 such that the evaluation of the different sub-expressions in respect to a specified one of the XML documents 140 can produce respective result sets for corresponding intermediate steps in the evaluation of the input XPATH expression 180.

The XPATH expression model 190 can be an extension of a pattern tree model used for computing XPATH containment. The extension to the pattern tree model can include additional node and token types to seamlessly model XPATH expressions based on XPATH 1.0. In this regard, the XPATH expression model 190 can include a directed and unranked tree modeling an XPATH expression with XPATH traversal tree (XTT) nodes and tokens. An XTT node can include a composite tree node in the XTT to model different kinds of XPATH expressions. In further illustration, FIG. 2 is a class diagram of an XPATH expression model configured to model an XPATH expression model in the system of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the XPATH expression model can include a FullXTTExpression 210 at its root. An instance of the FullXTTExpression 210 can include a listing of different instances of an ExpressionXTTNode 220 and one or more XTTToken instances. In each regard, an XTTToken is an atomic string token for an XPATH expression and is a smallest meaningful string in an XPATH expression. XTTTokens can include, by way of example, NAME-TEST—the name test of an XPATH step, FUNCTION-NAME—the name of an XPATH function, AXIS—the axis of an XPATH step, LITERAL—any string within quotes, NUMBER—any numerical token, and OPERATOR—the arithmetic and logical operators and operator.

Each instance of an ExpressionXTTNode 220 can encapsulate one or more instances of an XTTToken in the form either of a literal or a number. Exemplary instances of an ExpressionXTTNode 220 can include a literal expression, like “Hello World”, a numerical expression like “1” or “1.23”, a path expression, like “XYZ”, and a function expression, like “name(XY)”. However, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of a literal or numerical expression, the related XTTToken instances can be stored directly in the instance of the ExpressionXTTNode 220. By comparison, for path expressions, the child node can be an instance of an StepXTTNode 230, or an instance of a ParenthesisXTTNode 240. Likewise, for a function expression, the child node can be an instance of a FunctionDXPathNode 250.

Each instance of an ExpressionXTTNode 220 further can encapsulate a reference to a child XTTNode. The child XTTNode can include an instance of a StepXTTNode 230, or an instance of a FunctionDXPathNode 250. The StepXTTNode 230 models a step in the XPATH expression, which contains Axis and NameTest tokens, as well as a list of instances of an PredicateXTTNode 260, and a self reference to a ChildStepNode instance of the instance of the StepXTTNode 230. The Axis and NameTest tokens can store the axis and name test of the given step node. The list of instances of the PredicateXTTNode 260 can include a list of predicate expressions of the instance of the StepXTTNode 230. The size of the predicate list can range from zero to unlimited wherein the ChildStepXTT node instances reflect the next step of the given step node.

The ParenthesisXTTNode 240 models a parenthesis step in an XPATH expression. The parenthesis step node is a special case of a step node, the difference being that the ParenthesisXTTNode 240 contains an instance of a FullXTTExpression 210 instead of Axis and NameTest tokens in an instance of a StepXTTNode 230. The PredicateXTTNode 260 in turn models a predicate expression in an XPATH expression. An instance of the PredicateXTTNode 260 can encapsulate an instance to a FullXTTExpression 210 as the predicate expression. In this regard, since the predicate expression is a full XPATH expression, the predicate expression is modeled by an instance of the FullXTTExpression 210. Finally, the FunctionDXPathNode 250 models a function XPATH expression. An instance of a FunctionDXPathNode 250 can encapsulate a functionName as an instance of an XTTToken. Additionally, an instance of a FunctionDXPathNode 250 can encapsulate a list of FullXTTExpression 250 instances, each instance representing an argument of the function XPATH expression.

Utilizing the XTT model of FIG. 2, the intermediate steps of an XPATH expression can be revealed to facilitate XPATH expression debugging. In further illustration, FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for debugging an XPATH expression in the system of FIG. 1. Beginning in block 310, an XPATH input expression can be received for debugging and, in block 320 the XPATH input expression can be parsed into sub-expressions corresponding to intermediate steps of evaluation for the XPATH input expression. In block 330, an XTT model can be constructed with the sub-expressions at different nodes of the XTT model.

In block 340, a subject XML document can be loaded as the target of the XPATH input expression. In block 350, a visual rendering of the XTT model can be provided in hierarchical tree format wherein the nodes of the XTT model can be associated with selectable branches and leaves of the hierarchical tree. Thereafter, in block 360 a node in the XTT model can be selected for evaluation. In response to the selection of a node in the XTT model, a sub-expression corresponding to the selected node can be retrieved in block 370 and in block 380 the sub-expression can be evaluated as against the XML document. Finally, in block 390, the result set for the sub-expression can be rendered for viewing. The repeated selection of different nodes in the XTT model and the resulting rendering of a result set permit the debugger to isolate a point of failure in the XPATH input expression.

In yet further illustration, FIG. 4 is a screen shot of an exemplary user interface for the XPATH expression debugging data processing system of FIG. 1. The exemplary user interface can include an XPATH debugger view 410 in an IDE. The XPATH debugger view 410 can include a navigator window 420, an XPATH input view 430, a model view 440 and a result set view 450. The navigator view 420 provides a visual interface for selecting a subject XML document, whereas the input view 430 provides a visual interface for providing an XPATH expression and a starting context in an XML document for evaluating the XPATH expression. The model view 440 shows a hierarchical tree view of the XTT model for the XPATH input expression. Finally, the result set view 450 provides a hierarchical view of a result set produced for a selected node in the model view 440.

Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from at least one computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system.

For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk—read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk—read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters. 

We claim:
 1. An extensible markup language (XML) path (XPATH) expression debugging method comprising: receiving an XPATH input expression in a portion of a graphical user interface (GUI) of a debugger tool executing in memory of a computer; parsing the XPATH input expression to produce a plurality of sub-expressions corresponding to intermediate steps of evaluation for the XPATH input expression, the parsing of the XPATH input expression revealing expression nodes, step nodes, function nodes, predicates to the step nodes and parenthesis nodes; constructing an XPATH traversal tree (XTT) model as an extension of a pattern tree model used for computing XPATH containment and comprising additional node and token types to seamlessly model XPATH expressions, the pattern tree model comprising a directed and unranked tree modeling an XPATH expression with an XTT model by associating each of the revealed sub-expressions with a node in the XTT model, the node comprising a composite tree node in the XTT modeling different kinds of XPATH expressions, the XTT model being expressed as an aggregation of (a) one or more expression XTT nodes each including either a literal expression, a numerical expression, a path expression or a function expression, function, (b) one or more step XTT nodes modeling a step in the XPATH input expression, and (c) one or more function path nodes each encapsulating a function names as an instance of an XTT token comprising an atomic string token for an XPATH expression; receiving a selection of an XML document from a hierarchical list including different XML documents from a second portion of the GUI of the debugger tool; applying each of the ordered sub-expressions in the XTT model to the selected XML document; rendering a visual representation of the model in a third portion of the GUI of the debugger tool; and, responsive to receiving a selection of one of the sub-expressions rendered as a node in the model in the third portion of the GUI, differentially visually emphasizing, in a fourth portion of the GUI of the debugger tool, each portion of the selected XML document corresponding to a result set resulting from the application of the selection of the one of the sub-expressions to the selected XML document.
 2. An integrated development environment (IDE) data processing system configured for extensible markup language (XML) path (XPATH) expression debugging, the system comprising: an IDE user interface executing in an operating system of a computer; an XPATH expression model generator executing in the operating system of the computer and comprising program code enabled to construct an XPATH traversal tree (XTT) model as an extension of a pattern tree model used for computing XPATH containment comprising additional node and token types to seamlessly model XPATH expressions, the pattern tree model and comprising a directed and unranked tree modeling an XPATH expression with an XTT model by associating each of the revealed sub-expressions with a node in the XTT model, the node comprising a composite tree node in the XTT modeling different kinds of XPATH expressions, the XTT model being expressed as an aggregation of (a) one or more expression XTT nodes each including either a literal expression, a numerical expression, a path expression or a function expression, function, (b) one or more step XTT nodes modeling a step in the XPATH input expression, and (c) one or more function path nodes each encapsulating a function names as an instance of an XTT token comprising an atomic string token for an XPATH expression; and, an XPATH expression debugger executing in the operating system of the computer and comprising program code enabled to parse the XPATH input expression to produce a plurality of sub-expressions corresponding to intermediate steps of evaluation for the XPATH input expression, the parsing of the XPATH input expression revealing expression nodes, step nodes, function nodes, predicates to the step nodes and parenthesis nodes, to receive a selection of an XML document from a hierarchical list including different XML documents from a second portion of IDE user interface, to apply each of the ordered sub-expressions in the XTT model to the selected XML document and in response to receiving a selection of one of the sub-expressions rendered as a node in the XTT model in the third portion of the IDE user interface, and to differentially visually emphasize, in a fourth portion of the IDE user interface each portion of the selected XML document corresponding to a result set resulting from the application of the selection of the one of the sub-expressions to the selected XML document.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the IDE user interface is a user interface to an Eclipse framework implementation.
 4. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable storage medium having computer usable program code for extensible markup language (XML) path (XPATH) expression debugging, the computer program product including: computer usable program code for receiving an XPATH input expression in a portion of a graphical user interface (GUI) of a debugger tool executing in memory of a computer; computer usable program code for parsing the XPATH input expression to produce a plurality of sub-expressions corresponding to intermediate steps of evaluation for the XPATH input expression, the parsing of the XPATH input expression revealing expression nodes, step nodes, function nodes, predicates to the step nodes and parenthesis nodes; computer usable program code for constructing an XPATH traversal tree (XTT) model as an extension of a pattern tree model used for computing XPATH containment comprising additional node and token types to seamlessly model XPATH expressions, the pattern tree model and comprising a directed and ≤unranked tree modeling an XPATH expression with an XTT model by associating each of the revealed sub-expressions with a node in the XTT model, the node comprising a composite tree node in the XTT modeling different kinds of XPATH expressions, the XTT model being expressed as an aggregation of (a) one or more expression XTT nodes each including either a literal expression, a numerical expression, a path expression or a function expression, function, (b) one or more step XTT nodes modeling a step in the XPATH input expression, and (c) one or more function path nodes each encapsulating a function names as an instance of an XTT token comprising an atomic string token for an XPATH expression; computer usable program code for receiving a selection of an XML document from a hierarchical list including different XML documents from a second portion of the GUI of the debugger tool; computer usable program code for applying each of the ordered sub-expressions in the XTT model to the selected XML document; computer usable program code for rendering a visual representation of the model in a third portion of the GUI of the debugger tool; and, computer usable program code for, responsive to receiving a selection of one of the sub-expressions rendered as a node in the model in the third portion of the GUI, differentially visually emphasizing, in a fourth portion of the GUI of the debugger tool, each portion of the selected XML document corresponding to a result set resulting from the application of the selection of the one of the sub-expressions to the selected XML document. 